Mike Mahon will teach this 5 day workshop for Pastel, Oil, and Acrylic Mediums Demonstrations will be in Oil and Pastel

Be prepared for an intense learning experience. Mike teaches a process rather than a technique, and students consistently rave over their results. This workshop is beginner & intermediate friendly, but because of his unique and thorough presentation of classic painting principles, it will be challenging even for experienced painters.

Video Instruction & Review

Prior to the workshop, Mike will provide students with the following: 1. Exclusive access to a one hour video on his 7 principles of painting.

2. Exclusive access to a 3 part video on how Mike prepares his limited palette for oil painting.

3. A PDF pastel painting lesson for beginners and suggestions on organizing pastels prior to the workshop.

Mike’s demonstration paintings and paint-alongs will be videoed at the workshop. Some of these videos will be made available exclusively to the students following the workshop. This additional resource will help you relive and review your workshop experience for years to come.

Mikes Channel

Teaching Approach

Chama Escarpment by Mike Mahon – Best of Show, Santa Fe, Plein Air Festival National Show

Mike has had great success using Paint-Alongs to teach his painting process. The more controlled step-by-step procedure of a paint-along is very encouraging to those who want to master the seemingly contradictory qualities of control and spontaneity. You will learn how to think in Aesthetic Categories which form the foundation of all forms of art.

High Road Meadow – 12×16 Pastel by Mike Mahon

Workshop Schedule 1st Day

Mike will begin with an introductory PowerPoint presentation explaining painting principles and procedures necessary for successful painting, a question and answer session, and then will do a painting demonstration showing the principles he has explained.

Pastel Landscape Demonstration by Mike Mahon

After lunch, Mike will review your supplies and equipment and help you set up for a paint-along. He will hand out landscape pictures for each student that are identical to the one he will be using.

Mike will demonstrate his step-by-step painting process, stopping at each step to allow you to reproduce what you have just seen him paint. He has found that this is the fastest and most effective way to build confidence while learning his painting method.

Schedule – 2nd Day

On the second day, Mike will briefly review the material he has taught and have a short Powerpoint teaching session. Everyone will begin another paint-along demonstration. In the afternoon you will begin working on scenes from your own photo references.

Schedule – 3-4th Day

Everyone will continue working on paintings done from their own source material. Mike will work with each artist to determine how to choose the best photo and how to crop it. Throughout the week, he will have short lectures or presentations on measuring techniques and other technical issues.

Schedule – 5th Day

Students will continue working on paintings from their own source material. At the end of the day, there will be a comprehensive class critique of all the work produced during the workshop. Many artists consider this one of the most useful sessions of the workshop experience.

Arroyo Chamisa – 18×24 Pastel by Mike Mahon

Throughout this week, your ability to judge values, colors, and perspective will greatly increase and you will learn how to edit what you paint to the most essential elements for the most successful painting.

Your success is Mike’s goal!“Success is where preparation meets opportunity.”

Testimonials

“…You are one of the hardest working artists I’ve ever known, bar none. Not only did you spend every minute talking us through the fine points of scaling art to fit a canvas, but you did two paintings of your own AND spent time with each of us, from the oil neophyte to the more advanced oil painters in the group. All of us were most appreciative of your tact, attention to detail, and desire for us to do the best paintings we were capable of producing in 3 days… You don’t pull your punches. If a painting has elements that are not well done, you say so, and work with the artist to make improvements. I have been distressed in past workshops or in critique meetings when no real critique was provided, other than the false critique of gushy flattery… Thank you for your encouragement and your expertise. I greatly admire your painting AND teaching skills.” [capitalization emphasis is not mine] Martha Wofford, PhD., Dalhart, TX ***** “Mike, you have a great teaching persona. I think you have given me some great insights in to how my students feel! And I think I’ve learned some good things to pass on to my students! Deb Wheeler, art teacher, Andrews, TX ***** “Being a novice, the step-by-step process has given me a solid foundation on which to build any work in any medium that I may choose. I have learned more this week than I have in all the other workshops I have taken this year – combined!”Joy Russo, Hot Springs, Ark.*****